All cases
Theft from Church in Mantes-La-Ville
March 23, 2020, FranceWhile France is subject to lockdown measures related to the coronavirus, thieves stole three video projectors and the money collected during Masses from the safe in the church of Sacré-Cœur in Mantes-la-Ville on March 23rd.
Nativity Figures Stolen from a Church
March 21, 2020, GermanyUnknown perpetrators broke into the Evangelical church on the Ringstraße in Aldekerk, Kerken through a broken window between the evening of March 21st and the morning of the 22nd. They searched several cupboards and stole two nativity figures, before fleeing in an unknown direction. The police are investigating.
Heavy Damage after Break-in at Schwalbach Church
March 19, 2020, GermanyAt around two in the morning on February 19th, two perpetrators broke into a church in Schwalbach am Taunus and leaving at least 5,000 euros in damage. They destroyed a glass pane in the rear area, pried open the main entrance and broke open several doors and cupboards made out of wood and glass. It was unclear whether anything was stolen. A witness reported observing two men fleeing the church (about 1.70 meters tall, Mediterranean looking and darkly dressed). The police are investigating.
Burglars Smash Stained Glass Window at Leicester Cathedral
March 4, 2020, United KingdomSometime between 6 p.m. on March 4th and 7:20 a.m. on March 5th, burglars smashed a stained glass window in the chapel of Christ the King at the eastern end of Leicester Cathedral, next to the room where Richard III is buried at Leicester Cathedral.
Charente-Maritime: the Church of Port-d'Envaux desecrated, vandalized, and looted
February 22, 2020, FranceParishioners discovered vandalism, desecration, and theft in the Saint-Saturnin-de-Séchaud church in Port d'Envaux on February 22nd. They found the door of the sacristy broken, the door of the tabernacle forced open, consecrated hosts stolen, and the altar of the Virgin Mary damaged. All objects of value were stolen from the sacristy.
Violent Burglary in Saint-Charbel Monastery
February 13, 2020, BelgiumThree masked individuals armed with a crowbar burst into the Saint-Charbel Monastery in Ophain-Bois-Seigneur-Isaac between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. on February 13th. The intruders detained a monk and forced him to open various doors, including those of a parish office and furniture containing offerings. The identity of the perpetrators and extent of the loss have not been determined. The monastery, run by the Lebanese Maronite Order, is home to refugees hosted by the monks.
Desecration of Tabernacle and Theft in Carrión de los Céspedes
January 29, 2020, SpainJust two days after the desecration and theft from the chapel of the Clinical Hospital of Valencia, a group of thieves attacked the parish of Carrión de los Céspedes in Seville, stealing several religious objects and the gold crowns of the two figures of the Virgin of the Rosary and the Child Jesus that were prepared for a procession on February 1st for the 400th anniversary of the Brotherhood of the Rosary of Carrión.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen from Chapel Moments Before Mass
January 26, 2020, SpainOn January 26th, moments before the celebration of the evening Mass, unknown perpetrators removed the monstrance holding the consecrated host, a pyx (a small round container holding a consecrated host), and a ciborium with fifty consecrated hosts inside from the tabernacle of the Chapel of the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia. The monstrance was later found in the chapel's confessional and dozens of consecrated hosts were discovered scattered on the street.
Baby Jesus Stolen from Crèche in Lüneburg
January 11, 2020, GermanyThe Lüneburg police opened an investigation into the theft of the Jesus figure from the church on Friedenstrasse between January 10th and 11th.
Vandalism and Theft in Borgolavezzaro Church
January 10, 2020, ItalyJust before 4 pm on January 10th, at least three men entered the church of Santi Bartolomeo e Gaudenzio and broke through the thick glass case of the shrine carved out of a side altar containing the containing the urn of Santa Giuliana, patron saint of the town. Using a crowbar, the thieves also broke the glass of the urn and stole a rosary crown, a gold crucifix, rings, and other valuables worn by the patron saint's mannequin. The figure's left hand was the most damaged, with two destroyed wax fingers.
Christ Figures Stolen Twice in Two Weeks in Fabriano
January 7, 2020, ItalyThe Christ child figure was stolen on Christmas Eve from the nativity in the church of San Giovanni Battista in Fabriano (Ancona). Volunteers purchased a new figure to replace it. The new figure was then stolen from the San Filippo church around Epiphany, but returned a few days later.
Baby Jesus Figure Stolen from Church Crèche
January 4, 2020, ItalyThe parish of Sacro Cuore in Trapani reported the theft of the Christ figure from the nativity scene in the church on January 4th.
Statue of Virgin Mary Stolen from Saint-Étienne-du-Grès Church
January 2, 2020, FranceA statue of the Virgin Mary was stolen from the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in the town of Saint-Étienne-du-Grès on January 2, 2020.
Christ Figure Stolen from Nativity on New Year's Eve
December 31, 2019, ItalyOn New Year's Eve, a man riding a bicycle was filmed by security cameras stopping at the crèche in Lecce's Piazza Duomo and stealing the Christ child figure.
Electrical Equipment Stolen from Live Nativity Set
December 29, 2019, ItalyThe electrical materials used for a live nativity performance in Canosa di Puglia were stolen on December 29th by unknown thieves.
Christ Child Statue Taken from Crèche; Thrown to the Ground
December 28, 2019, ItalyThe resin figure of Jesus was taken out of the public nativity scene in Parè di Conegliano during the night between December 27th and 28th and thrown to the ground nearby by unknown vandals. Other figures in the scene were toppled and the cradle was stolen.
Thieves Stole Baby Jesus Statue and Crib on Christmas Day
December 25, 2019, ItalyThieves removed the handmade statue of the Jesus child and wooden cradle on Christmas day at the Don Angelo Frare park near the parish church in Mosnigo.
Report on Theft and Vandalism in Austrian Churches
December 5, 2019, AustriaCrucifixes and a fountain from a chapel in Alpbach. A gilded statue of the Virgin Mary from the parish church in Kufstein. A baroque monstrance from a church in Pfaffstätten, host bowls in Biedermannsdorf -- these are just a few examples of sacred art objects that were stolen from Austrian churches in 2019.
Locals Outraged by Theft of Christkind Figure from Vienna Christmas Market
November 26, 2019, AustriaThe Christkind (Christ child) figure was stolen twice in three days from the Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) on Enkplatz in Vienna. The original figure was replaced after the first theft. The replacement was then stolen. Now it has been replaced, at least temporarily, with a wooden stake with a woolen cap on top. Locals expressed outrage at the thefts and the priest of the adjacent church offered to receive the figure "discreetly" from anyone who wished to return it.
Two Church Burglaries in Rennes
November 25, 2019, FranceNotre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine Church and Saint-Sauveur Basilica in Rennes were burglarized during the night of November 24th to 25th by unknown thieves. The doors were pried open with crow bars and offertory trunks were broken. The parish priest of Notre-Dame called the incident "ugly and hurtful."